Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu or Riga?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Riga or Machu Picchu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Riga or Machu Picchu? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Riga or Machu Picchu?
Riga
Riga is the vibrant capital city of Latvia. It continues to gain popularity as a tourist destination in part because it is the base for the airline Air Baltic. This affordable airline offers discount flights around Europe and most of these flights pass through Riga with a forced overnight layover. This encourages travelers to visit this fascinating city for at least a night or two.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Riga Prices
Latvia PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayRiga €122Machu Picchu €104
The average daily cost (per person) in Riga is €122, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu is €104. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Riga and Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personRiga €52Machu Picchu €38
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomRiga €104Machu Picchu €76
Compare Hotels in Riga and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Riga or Machu Picchu? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Riga Hotel Prices and Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Riga €9.63Machu Picchu €27
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Riga
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Riga:
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn: $563
- From Private Transfer to Tallinn with Sightseeing: $503
- From Private Transfer to Vilnius with Sightseeing: $468
- 4x4 Off-Road Adventure with Hotel Transfers: $258
- From Cesis and Sigulda Day Trip with Hotel Transfers: $164
- Riga Gun Experience: Roundtrip Transfer and 4 Firearms: $163
- Private transfer Riga - Hill of Crosses - Riga: $138
- Private Transfer From Riga Airport To Riga City Center: $90
- Private Transfer from Riga Airport to Riga City: $78
- Riga City to Riga Airport (RIX) - Private Transfer.: $75
- Riga Airport (RIX) to Riga City - Private Transfer.: $75
- Private transfer from Riga Airport RIX to Riga city by Car or Van: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Riga or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu and Riga change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayRiga €57Machu Picchu €30
Typical Food Prices in Riga
Some typical examples of dining costs in Riga are as follows:
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Fast Food Lunch€5.77
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Riga
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Riga.
- Central Market Traditional Food Tour in a Small Group: $41
- Central Market Latvian Food Tour: $53
- Khinkali and Pelmeni Cooking Master Class: $70
- Exclusive Igloo for Lunches, Dinners and Events: $72
- Latvian Art Museum, Dinner, and Black Balsam Tasting: $210
- Pizza Making Master Class in Riga: $251
- Traditional Latvian Dinner with Private Folk Show: $252
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Riga €14Machu Picchu €66
Tours and Activities in Riga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Riga are as follows:
- 2 Hours Walking Tour in Legends and Secret of Riga's Old Town : $96
- 2.5-Hour Riga Cruiser Bike Tour: $88
- 24h Riga Sightseeing Red Bus Grand Tour: $36
- 3-Hour Private Paintball Game Experience in Zīles: $95
- 5,5 Hour Small Group Tour to Hill of Crosses from Riga: $90
- Admission Ticket to Live Silver Museum: $13
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $80
- Aeroplane Flight Experience: $81
- An audio tour of Old from St Peter's Church to the Monument of Freedom: $6.99
- Audio Tour of Riga Old Town: $12
- Bachelorette Party Adventure's Organization: $46
- Beer Bike Experience : $46
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Gardens of Mandor€2.44
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
- Private & Flexible 3-Hour Guided Tour of Machu Picchu: $60
- Private Tour Guide Service: $98
- Machu Picchu Morning Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus and Guide: $196
- Machu Picchu Small-Group Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus & Guide: $196
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayRiga €20Machu Picchu €6.20
Sample the Local Flavors in Riga
Also in Riga, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Old town pub & bar crawl, hidden gems, and local party: $21
- Pub Crawl with Local Guide: $29
- Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga: $35
- Riga Pub Crawl: $41
- Latvian Brewery Visit & 5 Beer tasting: $47
- Riga Evening Adventure: Pub Crawl & Games Night: $50
- Game Night & Pub Crawl: $52
- Riga Happy Hour Pub Crawl: $59
- Riga Brewery Tour: $59
- Prosecco Bike & Pub Crawl: $65
- Riga Brewery Tour: $77
- Riga's Old Town Beer Bike Tour & Guided Pub Crawl: $94
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Riga and Machu Picchu, we can see that Riga is more expensive. And not only is Machu Picchu much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Riga is in Europe and Machu Picchu is in South America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Machu Picchu would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Machu Picchu and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Riga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Riga than you might in Machu Picchu.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Riga Expensive? and Is Machu Picchu Expensive?.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.